Fuse-making machine



June 9, 1936. i H. P. RENWICK 2,043,838

FUSE MAKING MACHINE I Filed Sept. 17', 1934 s Shets-Sheeft 1 'INVENTOR.

Herbal"! Perry Renwck HIS ATTORNEYS.

1 MWM Jame 9, 1936. H. P. IRENWICK 38 Q FUSE MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /6 fly. 4.

INVEN T013. Perry Renwzch HIS ATTORNEYS.

June 9, 1 936. H P, RENWICK 2,943,838

FUSE MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 19 34 5 Sheets-Sheet s -7 1 Z A 4 I? 15 82 1-5 K74 24 97 Ff 97" 10 23 p 25 i c 14 5 7] finunnnu/ v INVENTOR.

-Herberl Perry Renwich WWMFW H I S ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES FUSE-MAKIN G MACHINE Herbert Perry Renwick, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Howard F. Leopold, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 1'7, 1934, Serial No. 744,341

Claims.

This invention relates to a fuse-making machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fuse-making machine which is rela- 5 tively simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for making one unit of a fuse of the so-called cartridge type, to replace the units.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for attaching the fuse strips of cartridge fuses to the caps of the same.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the new fuse-making machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the new machine, partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail view on line 4- in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 55 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on line 'l--'! in Fi 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 8--8 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view on line 9-9 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan View on line Ill-l0 in Fig. 5.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the construction and operation of the new machine a general description of the construction and operation of the same will be given, following which a detailed description of both the construction and operation of the new machine will be given, thus making the latter more intelligible.

A preferred form of the new machine is shown in the drawings, is therein generally indicated at H, and comprises a supporting frame l2 upon which is mounted an endless carrier l3 of the chain type, the carrier !3 including a row or series of cylindrical carrier or receptacle tubes l4, each open at its upper end (Fig. 6). Adapted to be inserted onto the open upper end of each of these manual method now in use for making these tubes I4 (Fig. 2) in any suitable manner, as by means of a suitable machine or device, or manually if desired, is a cap l8; each of these caps l8 having an opening in the form of a hole or slit formed in the top wall thereof for the reception 5 of a strip 22 of fuse wire, as willbe explained more fully hereinafter; a suitable storage receptacle 28 for a supply of the caps l8 being arranged upon the supporting frame l2, (Fig. 1) so that if the feeding operation is done manually the operator of the machine may readily remove the caps from the receptacle 28 and place them upon the tubes M; it being understood that this operation may be done by means of suitable mechanical or electrical means (not shown) if desired.

Fed toward the fuse cartridge caps 18 and carrier tubes [4 by web-feeding means, generally indicated at l5 and comprising a train of feed rolls, interconnected by means of suitable gearing, is a web of fuse wire l6 and when, during move- 20 ment of the carrier IS, the tubes l4 successively come under, and into registration with, the web of fuse wire I6, the free end portion of the web I6 is inserted successively through the openings, holes or slits in the caps it! into the carrier tubes 25 I4 and after each of such insertions of the free end portion of the fuse wire web through the opening in the cap l8 in registration therewith into the corresponding carrier tube M, a knife I! (Fig. 6) is moved across the web It and severs a strip or portion 22 of the web Hi from the body or free end portion of the same; each strip 22 being severed long enough so that the upper end portion 26 thereof projects slightly out of the corresponding tube l4 through the opening or hole E9 in the cap l8 thereof (Fig. 6).

After each operation of inserting the free end portion of the fuse wire web I 6 through the open ing or hole in the cartridge fuse cap and into the corresponding carrier tube 14 in registration therewith, and aftereach operation of severing the thus inserted free end portion of the fuse Wire web l6 from the body of the same, the free end portion of a web of fusible solder wire 23 is fed by a train of gear-interconnected feed rollers 24 into a position directly over and in registration with the opening in the cap l8 (of the loaded tube l4) and above the projecting portion 26 of the fuse strip 22, (Fig. 6); and at this time the hot tip 28 of a soldering iron 2|, of any suitable 50 design or type, but preferably of the electrically heated type, is automatically moved down into engagement with the free end portion of the web of solder metal 23, thereby fusing the free end portion of the solder web 23 and depositing-a fused globule or small massof solder 25 (Fig. 6)

' 7 onto the cap I8 over the opening or hole therein,

thus'fusin'g the projecting upper end portion 26 r of the strip of fuse wire 23 and the small mass of solder 25 to the cap I8 and thereby closing the opening or hole I9 in the cap. I8. 'Asthe carrier I3 continues to move, in a step i by step movement, (rightto left, Fig. 6) the cartridge caps- I8, with their attached strips 22 of fuse wire soldered thereto, engage a stripper I8 and are withdrawn by the latter out'of the carrier tubes I 4, whereupon they are dumped 1) by gravity out of the open-ended carrier tubes I4 andoff the carriage or carrier I3 into a suitable receptacle 21 provided therefor upon the supporting frame I2 of the new machine II; thus completing the operation of the machine. There- 7 7 after the caps I8 and attached fuse strips 22 may be assembled, in "any suitable manner a'nd by either mechanical means, (not shown) or manually, into a complete fuse of 1 the cartridge type. r V Having thus given a general description of the construction and operation of the new machine 'II, so as to render that which is to follow more intelligible, adetailed description of the construction of" the same: will now be given, followed by [a detailed description of the operation thereof.

'The moving parts of the newmachine II may be operated by any suitable prime mover, such as,

for example,'the electric'motor 29; power from the-latter being transmitted by an endless powertran smitting element in the form of a belt 30 to a pulley or sheave 3I which is arranged upon a shaft 32; the shaft 32 being rotatably journaled in the frame I2 and carrying a beveled gear 33 which meshes with a beveled gear 34, the latter beingmounted on ashaft 35 (Fig. 9). Power is I transmitted'from the shaft 35 through a speedreducing gear train'36 (Fig. 9) to the main-opv 'eratingfshaft 31 of the machine, andassociated r with the shaft 31 is a clutch 38'which may be operated at will bya clutch control lever 39.

Power is transmitted from the main operating shaft 31 to the endless carrier I3 as follows: Ar-

ranged onthe shaft 3'! is a disc 48 which has a laterally extending pin M (Fig. 9) and this pin 4I sprocket 5I which is mounted on a shaft 52, (Fig.

5), the carrier I3 and the carrier tubes I4 being advanced in a stepby stepmotion, (right to left,

1 Fig. 5), by the pin 4 land Geneva gear 42, sprock-.

V ets '50 and 5I, shafts 49 and 52, and associated Y j'parts; w

During the operation of inserting the free end portion of the fuse wire web through the openings I9 in the cartridge caps I8 and into the carrier tubes I4, the carriertubes I4 are held in a vise forclamp 53' (Fig. 7)..

,a stationary jaw element 54 and a pivotally This clamp 53 comprises mounted 'or-movable jaw element 55, the movable jaw element *55 having attached thereto a :laterally projecting arm56 (Fig. 7). This pivotal jaw 'element 55 of the clamp or vise 53 is moved 'into and :out of: clamping engagement with the :stationary fjawelement 54,.soas to hold the carchine. against the action of its resetting spring 96 "(Fig.' 10) and the knife I1 severs the free end portion of the web of fuse wire I 6 at regular intervals rier tubes I4 and the openings I9 in'the cartridge fuse caps I8 one at a time, that is, successively,

in registration with the free end portion of the web of fuse wire I6, as the carriage I3 is moved, in a step by step movement, (right to left, Figsal and 6); this movement of the pivotal jaw element 55 being effected by the arm 56. through the instrumentality of 'a push rod 51 which,in turn, is operated by a rocker arm 58 (Fig. 7) the rocker arm 58 being mounted on a rock shaft 59 and having a roller 60 which rides one cam surface "I9 of a cam 6| which is mounted on the shaft 31,

whereby as the shaft 37 and cam GI are revolved by the motor 29, the movable jaw 55 of the vise or clamp 53 is alternately moved into and out'of 54 of thervise or clamp. 53, by operation of the cam 6!, and its cam surfacelfl, roller 60,rocker arm 58, push rod 51 and arm 56.

The cam 6| likewise includes a second cam surface 80 (Figs. 5, 7 and 9) and this cam sur-' face 88 operates or advances the free end portion of the web of fuse wireIG, through the instrumentality ofa rocker arm 61, which is mounted on a shaft 85, and carries a cam roller 94 which rides a cam surface 80 of the cam 6|; a push rod '64 being operated against a resetting spring I 80 by the rocker arm 81 (Figs. 4 and 7) and having engagement at its upper end with an arm 8I web I6 (Fig. 4).

A'similar arrangement is provided for feeding the free'end portion of the web of solder wire 23, in a step by step movement, under the hot point or tip 20 of the soldering iron 2I. 'I'hisarrangement comprises a cam 62 which is arranged upon the shaft 31 adjacent the cam 6| (Figs. 5 and 8). This cam 62 includes arcam surface 83 upon which rides a cam roller 95, which is carried by a rocker arm 63; the rocker arm 63 being mounted on the shaft 59 andoperating a push rod 88 against a resetting spring 99, the push rod 68' engages at its upper end an arm 84 of the feed roll I4 which carries theweb 23 of solder wire (Figs. 7 and 8).

The soldering iron 2I is pivotally mounted between its ends, as at I5 (Fig.1) on a. support'IG and is 'urg'edby a spring 89 in a direction '(clockaction of the spring 89; while the'lower' end portion of thejpush rod 13 engages with a rocker arm 181',(Fig. 8) which carries a'cam roller 93 which,'in turn, rides acam surface 86..

' Likewise provided on the cam 62 isa lug (Fig. 8) which operates a member 69, the mem- -ber 69 being pivotally mounted between its ends,

as at 10, on the supporting frame o1 the ma- This'member 69 operates the knife I I,

after each operation of inserting the free end portion of the web through the opening in the cap I8 and into the corresponding carrier. tube I4.

aoaaees tion of the fuse wire web 16 and straightens the latter out as it passes into the guide :98. I A switch :88 controls the motor 29 and the electrical heating element in the soldering :iron 2|, (Fig. .3) is connected by a conductor :9] to an outlet box 92.

Operation The machine is set in operation by attaching the conductor 9I to the outlet 92 and closing the switch 88, thereby closing circuit to the motor '29,. The motor 29 being thus set in operation, power is then transmitted to the carrier I3 by way of the belt 30, pulley 3|, shaft 32, gears 33-34, (Fig. 9) shaft 35,speedreducing gear train 36, clutch 38, disc 48, pin 4 I Geneva. gear 42, shaft 43, gears 44 and 45 (Fig. 3), shaft 46, gears 41 and 48, shaft 49, (Fig. 6) and sprocket 50, whereupon the carrier I3 is moved, in a step by step movement, (right to left, Figs. 1\, 5 and 6) every time the pin M on the disc engages in one of the notches in the Geneva gear 42 (Figs. 3 and 9).

The carrier I3 being thus set in motion, the cartridge fuse caps I8 are removed from the storage receptacle 28 (Figs. 1 and 2), in any suitable manner, as by means of a suitable mechanical device (not shown) or manually, if desired, and are placed upon the open upper ends of the fuse strip receptacle tubes or carriers I4 which are mounted on the carrier I3 and spaced at intervals therealong.

As the fuse strip receptacle or carrier tubes I4 are moved one at a time into registration with the free end portion of the web of fuse wire I6 (Fig. 6), the cam surface I9 of the cam 6I (Fig. 5) which is then revolving with its supporting shaft 3'! (the main operating shaft) acts through the rocker arm 58-60 to raisea shoulder on the push rod 51 (Fig. 7) against the arm 56 of the movable clamping jaw 55 and against the action of the spring 99 and thereby pivots the movable clamping jaw 55 of the vise or clamp 53 into closed position so as to hold the fuse receptacle tube I4 and the opening or hole in the cap I8 arranged thereon (Fig. 6) momentarily in registration with the lower and free end portion of the fuse wire web I6, during the operations of inserting the free end portion of the fuse wire web I6 through the opening or hole I9 in the cartridge fuse cap I8 arranged thereon and into the corresponding carrier tube and severing the thus inserted free end portion of the web I6 from the body of the same.

At this time the cam surface 88 of the cam 6| (Fig. 5) acts through the cam roller 94 and the rocker arm 6'! (Fig. '7) to raise the push rod 64 against the action of the resetting spring I00 (Figs. 4 and '7), whereupon a shoulder on the upper end portion of the push rod 64 engages the arm BI of the fuse wire feed roll 82 (Fig. 4) and thereby rotates the latter (clockwise, Fig. 4). This operation advances the free end portion of the fuse wire web I6 past the web-severing knife I1 and through the opening or hole I9 in the cartridge cap I8 into the fuse wire receptacle or carrier tube I4 (Fig. 6); whereupon the lug I8 on the cam 62 (Figs. 4 and 8) engages the pivotal member 69 and rocks the latter (clockwise, Fig. 4)

at I0, thus causing the upper end portion of the rockable member 69 to engage the Web-severing knife I1 and pivot the latter (left to right, Fig. 6) against the action of its resetting spring 96 into engagement with the fuse Wire web I6.

In the foregoing manner the lower and free end portion of the fuse wire web I6 is inserted "through the opening .01 hole -1I9 "in "the cap J18 into the fuse wire receptacle .or .carrier tube I4 and severed from the body :of the web I16.

.At this interval the roller 60 carried by the rocker arm 58 rides off the cam surface I19 of the cam BI whereupon a spring 90 acts through the push rod 51 and the arm .55 to ur e the movablejaw 55 of the clamp or vise 53 (counterclockwise, Fig. 7) away from the stationary jaw 54 of the vise 53, and at this time the lug II on the disc 40 engages in a notch of the Geneva gear 42 .toadvance the carrier I3 a step forward (right to left, Figs. 1, 5 and 6),, .from position .A-to position B (Fig. 6).

The cam surface 19 of the cam 6| then again in acts threug-h the rocker arm 58-450, push rod 51, and arm 56 to move the clamping jaw 55 of the vise 53 into closed position and at this time the cam surface 83 of the cam 62 (Figs. 5 and 8) acts through the cam roller 95 and rocker arm 20 63 (Fig. 8) to raise the push rod 68, against the action of the resetting spring 99, whereupon a shoulder on the upper end portion of the push rod 68 engages the arm 84 of the feed roll 74 for the solder wire web 23; thus causing 25 the web-advancing rolls 24 to project the free end portion of the solder wire web 23 across the top of the particular cartridge fuse cap I8 carried by the fuse wire receptacle or carrier tube I4 which is at this time arranged in position B (Fig. 6). 30

When this operation takes place the action of the cam roller 93 riding off the cam surface 86 of the cam 62 (Fig. 5) causes the rocker arm 81 (Fig. 8) to move away from the push rod 13 (counterclockwise, Fig. 8) whereupon the tip 29 85 of the soldering iron 2.I which is normally held in a raised position out of engagement with the web of solder wire 23 by engagement of the push rod T3 with the arm 11 of the soldering iron 2I, is urged by the spring 89, (counterclockwise, Fig. 40 4) thereby causing the tip 28 of the soldering iron 2| to engage the free end portion of the solder wire web 23 and fuse said free end portion. This operation fuses the projecting upper end portionifi of the fuse strip 22 to the cap I8 and deposits a small mass or globule 25 of solder upon the cap I8 to close the opening or hole I9 therein, as shown in Fig. v6 (position B).

The cam surface I9 of the cam 6| then acts upon the rocker arm 58-459 to rock the latter (counterclockwise, Fig. 7), whereupon the push rod 57 falls away from the arm 59 of the movable clamping jaw (Fig. 7) and the latter pivots,

under the action of the spring 90, away from the stationary jaw 54 of the vise 53. 55

At this time the lug 78 engages a notch in the Geneva gear 42 to advance the carrier I3 and the thus completed cartridge fuse unit I822 carried thereby from position to position C, (Fig. 6) whereupon the foregoing cycle of opera- 60 tions commences over again.

As the carrier I3 makes the turn around the sprocket 59 (Mg. 5), the stripper I8 engages the caps I8 of the fuse units I8--22 and pulls the latter out of the receptacle or carrier tubes I4, whereupon the completed fuse units I8--22 drop by gravity (Fig. 1) into a suitable receptacle 2! provided therefor on the frame I2 of the machine.

The fuse units I8-22 may then be assembled 7 or converted into complete cartridge fuses either by suitable mechanical means (not shown) or manually, as desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my in- V vention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I; therefore, do n ot wish to be limited to the precise details of-construction s set-forth, but desire to avail myself of such vari- "ations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

the said carrier in an intermittent step by step movement; a rowof receptacle tubes mounted on said carrier andeach having an open end; each J of said receptacle tubes being adapted to have arranged thereon a cartridge fuse cap having an opening orhole formed therein; means for supporting a web of "fuse metal; means automatically feeding the free end portion of said fuse metal web suacessively through the said openings or holes in said c'apsinto said receptacle tubes; means automatically severing a strip from the free end portion of said fuse metal web'after 7 each insertion'thereof so that a portion of said severed fuse strip projects'outwardly of the corresponding cartridgefuse cap through the open ing or hole in the latter; means'for supporting a web of fusible solder metal; means automatically feeding the free end portion of said'solder metal Web successively across each of said projecting fuse strip portions; a soldering iron; and means aui tomatically moving the said soldering iron into engagement with the said free end portion of said solder metal web so as to solder the said projecting portions of 'said fuse strips to said caps. V V r 2 A' machine for making cartridge fuse units, comprising the combination of: a carrier a row of receptacle tubes mounted on 'saidcarrier and eachhaving an open end adapted to support an apertured cartridge fuse cap; means for imparting an intermittent or step by step movement to 'said carrier; means'for inserting the free end' portion of a web of fusefmetal successively throughleach of the said apertured caps carried by said receptacle tubes and into'the latter through the said open ends of the same, between move,-

' ments of'said carrier; means for severing a'strlp of fuse metal from the said. free end portion of said web of fuse metal after each insertion of the same; and means for soldering thesaid severed fuse strips and the said caps together after the aforementioned inserting and web-severing operations.

3. 'Amachine'for making cartridge fuse units, f s comprising the combination of a carrier; receptacle tubes mounted on said carrier and each having an open end adapted to support an apertured cartridge fuse cap; means for inserting the free end portion of a web of fuse metal successively through each-of the said apertured fuse caps carried by saidreceptacle tubes and into 7 the latter through the said open ends of the same; means forsevering-a'strip of fuse metal from the free end portion of said web after each insertion thereof; and means for successively and automatically soldering the said severed fuse strips to the said cartridge fuse caps arranged upon said receptacle tubes after the aforementioned inserting and web-severing operations. a

V 4. A machine for making cartridge fuse units, 7

comprising the combination of a carrier; receptacle tubes mounted on'said carrier and each having anopen end adapted to support an apertured cartridge fuse cap; means for imparting an intermittent or step by step movement tosaid carrier; means for inserting (the free end portion of a web of fuse metal successively through each of the said apertured caps and into the said receptacle tubes through the said open ends of 1 the same, between movements of said carrier; means for severing a strip of fuse metal fromrthe said web after each insertion of the same; means for soldering the said severed fuse strips and the 7 said caps together after the, aforementioned inserting and web-severing operations; and means 7 for successively holding the said receptacle tubes and the said caps arranged thereon momentarily in registration with the free end portion of the said web of fuse metal during the aforesaid in 'serting and web-severing operations.

5. A machine for making cartridge fuse units comprising the combinationof: a'carrier;receptacle tubes mounted on said carrier and each having an openend adapted tosupport an apertured cartridge fuse cap; means for inserting the free end portion of a web of fuse metal successively through each of saidapertured caps and into the said receptacle tubesthrough the said open ends of the same; means for severinga strip of fuse metal from the free end portion of said web after each insertion thereof; means for suclcessively and automatically, soldering the said severed fuse strips to the said cartridge fuse caps arranged upon said receptacle tubes after the aforementioned inserting and web-severing oper-' ations; and ,means for successively holding the said receptacle tubes and'caps momentarily in registration with the said free end portion of the said web of fuse metal during the aforesaid inserting and web-severing operations. 7

HERBERT PERRY RENWICK. 

